Shockwave Therapy in Delaware, Ohio
If you have been living with heel, elbow, shoulder, or knee pain that just will not quit, you do not have to keep pushing through it. Shockwave therapy uses gentle pressure waves, delivered through a small handheld applicator, to wake up stubborn, painful tissue and encourage your body to repair it. At Heritage Clinic of Chiropractic, Dr. Gabby leads your care with radial shockwave: no needles and no medication.
No referral needed.
Shockwave Therapy at a Glance
| What it is | Non-invasive radial shockwave (radial pressure wave) therapy for chronic soft tissue pain |
|---|---|
| Best for | Pain that has hung around for weeks or months and has not responded to rest, stretching, or other care |
| Typical plan | 6 to 16 sessions, usually once a week and sometimes twice a week at the start |
| Your first visit | Consultation and exam with a doctor, so we can confirm shockwave is a good fit |
| Cost | Cash-pay. Most insurances do not cover shockwave therapy. We walk you through your options and the exact cost at your consult, before you commit |
| Referral | Not needed |
| Where | 29 Grandview Ave Suite B, Delaware, OH 43015 |
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy sends rapid, gentle pressure waves into the sore area through a small applicator. Your body reads those waves as a signal to bring in more blood flow and start repairing. There is no heat, no needle, and no medication.
Heritage uses radial shockwave, also called radial pressure wave therapy. The waves spread out through a broad area, which is why it suits muscle, tendon, and fascia (the thin connective tissue that wraps your muscles).
Who It Helps
It works best for pain that has hung around for weeks or months and has not responded to rest, stretching, or other care. If you have been told to "just give it time" and time has not helped, this may be worth a conversation.
Your body was designed to heal. Shockwave does not replace that design. It helps clear the path so the healing already built into you can get moving again.
Watch: Shockwave Therapy Patient Education Video
This short video from Shockwave Centers of America (SWCA) explains how shockwave therapy can help people with chronic pain.
What Can Shockwave Therapy Help With?
Shockwave is most often used for chronic soft tissue problems, including:
Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
Sharp heel pain with your first steps in the morning, or after sitting for a while. This is one of the most common reasons people come to us for shockwave.
Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow
Aching on the outside or inside of the elbow when you grip, lift a coffee cup, or turn a doorknob.
Achilles and shin pain
Stiff, sore tissue along the back of the ankle or the front of the lower leg that keeps flaring with activity.
Shoulder pain
A frozen shoulder or rotator cuff pain that makes reaching, dressing, or sleeping uncomfortable.
Knee and joint pain
Long-lasting knee pain, including arthritis-related aching, when you want more than rest and ibuprofen.
Carpal tunnel and wrist pain
Tight, irritated tissue in the wrist and forearm from typing, lifting, or repetitive work.
Muscle knots in the neck, back, and hips
Stubborn trigger points that return no matter how often you stretch.
Heel spurs and calcific buildup
Chronic tissue changes around a joint or tendon that have not eased with time.
Nerve-related pain
Some people with peripheral neuropathy symptoms use shockwave as one part of a longer plan. Your doctor will talk through whether it fits.
Ready to see if shockwave is a fit?
Come in for a consult and exam. Your doctor will listen to your story, look at the area, and tell you plainly whether shockwave makes sense for you.
Request a Shockwave ConsultHow Does Shockwave Therapy Work?
Pressure waves reach the tissue
The applicator sends rapid pulses into the sore area. They spread out and fade with depth, which is why radial shockwave suits broad areas of muscle, tendon, and fascia.
Blood flow increases
More circulation brings oxygen and the building blocks your body uses to repair itself. Many people notice some relief and easier movement soon after the first visit.
Your body repairs and adapts
Over the next several visits, the tissue gets a repeated reminder to heal and become more flexible. Results build with each session.
Shockwave does not replace movement. Think of it as loosening the soil so stretching and strengthening can do their job.
What Will a Visit Feel Like?
Expect tapping, thumping, and pressure over the sore area, sometimes a familiar tender "good hurt." It should never feel unbearable, and we adjust the strength throughout so you stay comfortable. Most sessions are short, and you can talk with us the whole time.
Afterward, mild soreness, redness, or tingling for 12 to 24 hours is normal. We will go over simple aftercare with you before you leave, including what to do and what to avoid for the first day.
How Many Visits Will I Need?
Shockwave is cumulative, so most people need a series rather than a single visit. Typical spacing is about once a week, and sometimes twice a week early on. Plans at Heritage run from 6 to 16 sessions, depending on how long the problem has been there and how stubborn the tissue is.
Every plan includes your Day 1 consultation and exam, home exercises, and a recheck 4 to 6 weeks after your last session. We check your progress along the way, and if we are not seeing change, we will talk with you about next steps.
Is Shockwave Therapy Right for Me?
Shockwave is non-invasive and well researched, but it is not right for everyone. We screen every patient before treatment. Common reasons to wait or to avoid certain areas:
- Pregnancy. We can treat arms, hands, knees, and feet, but not the low back, pelvis, or belly.
- A pacemaker or other electrical implant. We avoid treating near the device.
- Active IV chemotherapy. Shockwave is not a fit while you are in active IV treatment.
- Blood thinners or clotting disorders. Sometimes possible with a gentle test dose first.
- Recent steroid or other injections in the area. We wait several weeks.
- Children and teens. Limited to certain areas, and only after a careful look at growth plates.
A doctor reviews your history at your first visit to confirm shockwave is a good fit. If it is not, we will tell you, and we will point you toward what is.
Why Families Choose Heritage for Shockwave
Heritage Clinic of Chiropractic is a faith-based, family-focused practice in Delaware, Ohio. Our mission is to glorify God by helping restore families to the health and function they were created for. Patients of any faith, or none, are always welcome.
Many of our patients pair shockwave with chiropractic adjustments and home exercises, so the whole picture gets care, not just the sore spot. You will meet with a doctor, you will have time to ask questions, and you will know the plan and the cost before you begin. Cash-pay means no surprise bills and no insurance back-and-forth.
Learn more about our team, our family chiropractic care, or how we care for expecting moms and children. Curious about the rest of our care? See intersegmental traction and the Activator technique.
Shockwave Therapy FAQs
Does shockwave therapy hurt?
You will feel tapping, pressure, and sometimes a familiar tender "good hurt" over the sore spot, but it is not meant to be painful. We adjust the strength throughout your session so you stay comfortable. Tell us anytime and we will dial it back.
Will I be sore afterward?
Mild soreness, redness, or tingling for 12 to 24 hours is common. Many people also feel some relief and easier movement soon after a visit. We will go over simple aftercare with you, including what to do and what to avoid for the first day.
Can shockwave therapy help plantar fasciitis?
Shockwave is one of the most common uses for long-lasting heel pain and plantar fasciitis, especially when rest, stretching, and supportive shoes have not been enough. Your doctor will confirm at your exam that it fits your situation. Results vary from person to person.
How many sessions will I need?
Most people need a series, because shockwave is cumulative. Our plans range from 6 to 16 sessions, usually once a week and sometimes twice a week at the start. We check your progress along the way and adjust.
How soon will I notice a difference?
Everyone is different. Some people feel better after the first visit, while others notice change over the first few sessions. If we are not seeing progress after a few visits, we will talk with you about next steps rather than keep going.
What does shockwave therapy cost at Heritage?
Shockwave is a cash-pay service. Because your plan is built around your condition and how long it has been there, we walk you through your options and the exact cost at your consult, before you commit to anything. We accept cash, check, credit and debit cards, and HSA or FSA cards.
Does insurance cover shockwave therapy?
Most insurances do not cover shockwave therapy, so we do not bill it to insurance at Heritage. It is a cash-pay service, so you always know what you are paying and why.
What conditions does shockwave treat best?
It is best known for chronic soft tissue pain: plantar fasciitis and heel pain, tennis and golfer's elbow, Achilles and shin pain, frozen shoulder and rotator cuff pain, knee pain, carpal tunnel and wrist pain, and stubborn muscle knots. Some people with nerve-related pain also use it as part of a longer plan.
What is the difference between radial and focused shockwave?
Radial shockwave spreads out through a broader area and works from the surface to mid-depth. Focused shockwave reaches deeper, more pinpoint targets. Heritage uses radial shockwave, which suits most muscle, tendon, and fascia problems.
Is shockwave therapy safe during pregnancy?
We can treat arms, hands, knees, and feet during pregnancy. We do not treat the low back, pelvis, sacrum, or belly. If you are expecting, our team will talk through what is possible for you.
Can I do shockwave therapy along with chiropractic care?
Yes. Many patients pair shockwave with adjustments and home exercises. Shockwave prepares the tissue, and movement and strengthening help the results last.
Can I still exercise or work during treatment?
Gentle activity is encouraged. We will tell you what to avoid for the first day after a session, and we will give you home exercises to support your recovery.
Is it safe if I have metal plates, screws, or a joint replacement?
Radial shockwave does not create heat, so metal implants are generally fine. We still review your history first. Electrical implants such as pacemakers are different, and we avoid treating near them.
Do I need a referral or imaging first?
No referral is needed. Your doctor will decide at your first visit whether imaging would help, based on your area of pain and your history.
More questions? See our full FAQ page.
Ready to See If Shockwave Is a Fit?
Send us a request and we will reply within 1 hour during business hours. Requests sent on the weekend are answered Monday.
Heritage Clinic of Chiropractic
29 Grandview Ave Suite B, Delaware, OH 43015
Serving Delaware, Lewis Center, Marysville, Sunbury, and nearby communities.
